The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The Treasury Surplus the only Subject
Discussed-Views OF Congressman
McComas on the Message.


The annual message Of President Cleveland to
Congress was read in the Senate and House on
Tuesday. The document has already caused much
adverse comment because it discusses but one sub
ject-the surplus and the proper means for its re-
duction.
As to those general home and foreign topics
(says the Baltimore Heraid,) which have been in
variably reviewed in Presidential messages, Mr..
Cleveland complacently refers Congress to the re-
ports made by the various heads of departments.
How this departure from a traditional custom, and
one which has heretofore been regarded as a re-
quirement of the Constitution, will strike the peo-
pie is matter of speculation. 1t may be safely
assumed, however, that the President will be sub
jected to pointed criticism by his political oppo-
nents It is true that there has been a universal
demand for shorter and more lucid messages, but
the plan Of avoiding prolixity by ignoring all
governmental questions save one had never be-
fore entered the public mind. The proper con-
densation of the Presidential remarks would have
been gratefully recognized, but the rude amputa-
ton Of an important public document was not ex-
actly what intelligent citizens yearned for.
The language in which the message is couched
is not notable for its elegance, but it is plain and
to the point. The President vigorously sets forth
the national danger which is threatened by the
overflow of the Treasury. He shows that finan-
cial catacysm is liable to burst upon the country
at any moment if the government vaults are not
promptly relieved of the plethora. He makes
bold attack on the theory of high protection. He
believes in protection but only to a moderate and
healthy extent and the doctrine of tariff for
enue only is vigorously championed. Statistics
are submitted to prove that the great majority of
our people have no interest in protected industries
and th at neither the manufacturer his employee
will suffer by reduction of the present schedule
of the tariff on imports. Congress is advised to
place all raw materials on the free list, and the
h~.-~----s- 80 na-a-s, 90 uo -. @
by an urgent demand for the abolition OF the duty
on wool.
1t is quite plain that the message is the product
of conference among leading Democrats, and
that it is designed to serve as the chief campaign
document of 1888. If it be true that Mr.. Randall,
who is reported to be full of the spirit If COM
promise, has had hand in it the fact is signif-
can't and would foreshadow the incorporation of
the Presidents views in q successful House BILL
As to the probable action of the Senate in such
case that would be matter for pure speculation
AT all events it is an assumed fact that the Dem
ocrats have taken opportunity by the foreock and
and raised the cry of surplus reduction and mod
crate tariff as their campaign shibboleth
CONGRESSMAN M'COMAS ON THE MESSAGE.
Hon. L.. E. McComas, Republican member of
Congress from Maryland, criticising the message
says: "The Presidents message is silent respect
ing the important transactions of the State De-
partment, and silent as to all the great depart
ments of the government. He does not give us
any of the usual information of the state of the
Union nor recommend any legislation respecting
the general government He confines his message
to brief statement Of the condition of the Trea-
sury, and says the surplus for the year ending
with june 1887, was ffty-fve millions. He then
enters upon q long argument against protection.
In one thing I agree heartily with the President.
The fact of the surplus ought to lead us to con-
sider first, its reduction, and next, the bearings of
free trade and protection. The burden of the
Presidents argument is to persuade US to take of
the tariff on free materials. But free wool,
for instance, which he would favor, would only re-
duce the surplus 100000; but free sugar, which
I would vote for, because we can't produce it as q
protected product, would reduce the surplus $57,-
600, 000 Then too, would vote to retain the in
ternal revenue tax, the war tax on liquors, but
would make free all alcohol used in the arts, man.
ufactures, drugs and medicines. This would re-
duce the revenue $15 900, 900 more. Then would
strike off the war tax the farms in 1000 coun-
ties and fifteen states of the Union, which raise
raw tobacco as farm product Thus we would
take off $50, 900, 900 MORE Thus will illustrate
the defect of the Presidents lengthy argument.
The sound is captivating, but if you were to do
all he suggests, make free coal, lumber, ore and
wood, you would scarcely reduce the surplus at ALL
My hope is this, Congress may first solve the prob
lem of the surplus and next discuss the adjustment
of the tariff and improve especially its admnstra-
tive features"